Skip to main content

My Plans

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3 NIV

I was looking through various translations of Proverbs 16:3. I found that I received each one differently. For as long as I can remember, I have considered this as a verse that makes me think of success. If I commit my actions to God, He will be in my plans. Almost like God is some sort of genie in a bottle. It's a transaction based understanding. If I do A, God will do B for me and B happens to be something I planned out.  

The New Living Translation seems to support my understanding as it says, "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." Essentially, if I commit MY actions to God, MY plans will succeed. I seem to be the central focus of this approach.  

There seems to be a flaw in my understanding. If I am the one whose plans are being fulfilled, how can my actions honor God? If I were to truly commit my actions to God, could I still have my own plans? If whatever I do is for God, shouldn't my plans really be the same as His plans? Can I have plans that are my own if I have truly surrendered fully to God?

Usually when I read the King James Version of the Bible I walk away confused. Old English is tough for me to comprehend. However, in this case the KJV has been key. It says, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, And thy thoughts shall be established." The other versions speak about plans, but this version speaks about thoughts. That makes sense. If my actions are intentional for God, my thoughts will be for Him too.  

Think about it from the perspective of a project around the house. Maybe it is Saturday and you are going to do a deep clean of the house or you are building a new shed. That day your actions will be focused on that project. It consumes your thoughts and plans. Or maybe you are planning a vacation. It takes over your thoughts and plans. You may change your budget because you want to save for vacation or you decide to work overtime to earn more for this trip you are excited about. The vacation consumed your actions and your thoughts.  

God wants us to be the same with Him. He wants us to be consumed by Him. As we commit our actions to Him, He takes over our thoughts. His plans become ours. This is not a transactional relationship He is calling us into, but an overwhelming infiltration. God wants our hearts to be filled with Him. He wants our actions and thoughts to show this. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Right In Front of Me

There is one character in the story of the night of Jesus' arrest that sticks out. He seems insignificant to what is happening. He’s almost an interruption in the story. He is only mentioned by name in one of the four gospels, even though the description of what occurred is in all four gospels.  Malchus is his name. He works for the people who want Jesus dead. His job, with his compadres, is to seize Jesus and bring him back to the high priest. There he would be subject to questioning, a trial of sorts.  As Malchus and his posse are approaching, Peter takes action to protect Jesus. “With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Jesus immediately tells Peter and the rest of his disciples to stop with the violence.  I wonder what Malchus thought at this point. I imagine his was in shock, I would guess he was surprised. He had just been attacked and surely is bleeding ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Glow Differently

I saw this quote recently, “You glow differently when your confidence is fueled by belief in yourself instead of validation from others.” I found myself wrestling with it. I completely agree with the concept that the validation of my worth is not established by the thoughts of others. While I think a positive self image is important, I do not think that it is what really makes me “glow differently.” I hope I glow differently because of whom I believe in, rather than what I believe of myself.  The author of Titus says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) . Love and kindness entered the world in the form of a m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pray for Me

I struggle with praying for myself.  I have no problem setting aside time to read the Bible.  No problem setting aside quiet time to pray for the needs of others.  I pray for our prayer list at church, for my family, friends, family of friends, those I have the opportunity to serve, and those who simply ask for me to pray for rhem. Let me share a little secret, for many years I have had a career working in athletics.  This means I hear the national anthem more often than the normal person. I don't sing the national anthem.  Not because I am not patriotic, but because it gives me a chance for a brief moment of quiet in the storm.  I spend that time with my Father in heaven.  I pray for the health and safety of the participants.  I pray for the coaches that they may lead in a way that Jesus would be proud. I pray for the officials and their discernment. I pray often and for many others.  When it comes to me, I just seem to glance ov...
Post a Comment
Read more